Sunday, July 20, 2014

A Blessed Man or a Rich Man?

Jeremiah 17:7-8: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

I choose the path of being a blessed man rather than chasing after the riches of the world. Because a blessed man put his hope in the living God knowing that God alone is His source of providence.
Don’t place your faith in nouns. Sooner or later every person will disappoint, every place will lose its luster, and every thing will wear out, become outdated, or lost. But there is One who will never disappoint. That’s why the person who puts his trust in God will be blessed. When I place my trust in the Lord, I can enjoy constant nourishment to my soul, constant protection and yield constant fruit.

Mark 8:36 says "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" A hundred years from now very few of us will be remembered by anybody living at that time. So if we focus all our attention on the successes of this world what will it have gained for us. When we die our money, fame, and honors will be meaningless. We own nothing in this world. Everything we think we own is in reality only being loaned to us until we die. And on our deathbed at the moment of death, no one but God can save our souls.

That does not discount the fact of giving your very best at your work place. Colossians 3:23-25 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Life is fragile, live the moment for His glory. The book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes contain some wise sayings regarding work. Proverbs 14:23 says, “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Proverbs 6:6-11 says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.” Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” A strong work ethic is confirmed, with warnings concerning slackness.

What is your choice today? In whom or what do you trust? In whom or what do you place your confidence? The MH17 incident taught us that Life is fragile, live the moment for God's glory.

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